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Updated: Feb 18, 2026

Evaluation of the Interplay Between the Complement Protein C1q and Hyaluronic Acid in Promoting Cell Adhesion
Published on: June 15, 2019
Novel mechanisms and functions of complement
George Hajishengallis1, Edimara S Reis2, Dimitrios C Mastellos3
1Department of Microbiology, School of Dental Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA.
Abstract:
Progress at the beginning of the 21st century transformed the perception of complement from that of a blood-based antimicrobial system to that of a global regulator of immunity and tissue homeostasis. More recent years have witnessed remarkable advances in structure-function insights and understanding of the mechanisms and locations of complement activation, which have added new layers of complexity to the biology of complement. This complexity is readily reflected by the multifaceted and contextual involvement of complement-driven networks in a wide range of inflammatory and neurodegenerative disorders and cancer. This Review provides an updated view of new and previously unanticipated functions of complement and how these affect immunity and disease pathogenesis.
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